Russia is genuinely interested in strengthening ties with Africa and will implement joint projects in various areas together with African partners, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"Russia, for its part, is genuinely interested in further strengthening of multifaceted ties with the African continent, and we will actively promote these ties in practice. We will implement new joint projects in very different areas," Putin said.
The Russian president also stated that Moscow will do everything in its power to prevent a food crisis in Africa and in global markets in general.
Russia is also providing assistance with grain to African states as a reliable supplier, despite all obstacles posed by other countries, Putin added.
According to him, Western countries use their "rules" for selfish purposes to replace the system of international law, this is the same old colonialism, only in a new package.
"They [the Western nations] are trying to replace the system of international law with their own so-called order based on rules that no one has seen, rules used, I must say, for selfish purposes and changing in favor of the current political conjuncture, whenever and however in accordance with the interests of individual countries. In fact, this is the same colonialism, only in a new package, by the way, not so good looking," Putin said.
He added that the world majority is increasingly tired of the pressure and manipulations of the West and is ready for equal cooperation.
"The world majority, to which the countries present here belong, is increasingly tired of all kinds of pressure, all kinds of manipulations, but is ready for honest, equal and mutually respectful cooperation," the Russian president said.
He also noted that it is from such positions that the BRICS countries approach the development of multifaceted relations with all the states represented at the unification summit and regional integration structures, including the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), ASEAN, the Caribbean Community, the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.
In this regard, the president stated that BRICS stands for a world order that is truly balanced and takes into account the interests of many countries, preserving the diversity of peoples.
"We all support the formation of a new multipolar world order. A world order that would be truly balanced and take into account the sovereign interests of the widest possible range of states, would open up the possibility for the implementation of various development models, helping to preserve the diversity of national cultures and traditions," Putin said.
According to him, the bloc does not compete with anyone and does not seek to oppose itself to anyone.
"I want to note that BRICS does not compete with anyone, does not oppose itself to anyone, but it is also obvious that this objective process, the process of creating a new world order, still has irreconcilable opponents who seek to slow down this process, to restrain the formation of new independent centers development and influence in the world," Putin stressed.
The opponents of the BRICS — the so-called countries of the "golden billion" — are trying to replace the system of international law for selfish purposes, the president added.
In addition, the leader stated that there will be no alternative to hydrocarbon fuel in the foreseeable future.
"It is quite obvious that in the foreseeable future, there will be no alternatives to coal, to hydrocarbon fuel," Putin said.
In his speech during the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his nation will expand its cooperation with Africa to support the continent's countries in expanding opportunities for independent development.
China is a reliable friend of Africa, the president said, adding that Beijing has provided Africa with a large amount of development assistance over the past 10 years.
"China will continue to expand cooperation with African countries to support them in strengthening independent development opportunities," Xi said.
China will continue to increase cooperation with Africa in a variety of areas, Xi has stated.
"At the next stage, China will expand cooperation with African countries to support Africa in expanding its opportunities for independent development," the leader said.
According to him, the directions of this cooperation relate, in particular, to the provision of satellite imagery data to African countries, cooperation on the program of equipping customs services with high-tech equipment, as well as the implementation of other initiatives that will allow Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China is a reliable friend of Africa.
"Over the past 10 years, Africa has received significant development assistance, participated in the construction of more than 6 thousand kilometers of railways, more than 6 thousand kilometers of highways and more than 80 large energy facilities [from China]," Xi stressed.
Apart from that, Xi Jinping called for building a global partnership for development and creating a secure international environment for common development.
"It is necessary to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance and support developing countries in achieving better development," the Chinese leader said. He also noted that "it is necessary to firmly adhere to true multilateralism, build a global partnership for development and create a safe and stable international environment for common development."
Moreover, at the meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his country has made the development of relations with the African continent its priority, his country is one of the leading partners of the African nations.
"India gives priority to relations with African countries. We have opened 16 new Indian embassies and diplomatic missions in Africa. Today, India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner and fifth investment partner," Modi said.
He pointed out that India has always given priority to capacity building and infrastructure development in African countries.
"India is a reliable partner on the path of Africa's development to make Africa a new power center of the future," the Indian Prime Minister added. "About 4,400 Indian peacekeepers, among whom there are also women, are deployed in Africa to restore peace. We are working with Africa in the fight against terrorism and piracy."
During the meeting, Brazilian President Lula da Silva has also made a number of statements regarding the international agenda.
According to him, countries must develop their cooperation because there is a risk of starting a nuclear war. Silva stressed that it is the African continent where solutions to many modern problems lie today, it is high time to reinvigorate cooperation with developing countries.
Additionally, the president stressed that democracy is threatened in many places by the activities of extremist groups.